Leather goods clasp

ABSTRACT

This invention is directed at a clasp including a female member having the form of an inverted cup which extends toward the male member. The female member has a hood terminated by a flange under which a male beak of attachment can lock and has lateral tabs insuring the guidance of the male element when the clasp is being closed. The male element of the clasp includes a plate having substantially the form of a T whose crossbar forms a trigger guard designed to be fixed to the article to which the clasp is fitted, and a leg bent under the guard in such a way as to project beyond the latter with its end forming the attachment beak and also serving as a key for opening the clasp.

United States Patent 417,619 12/1889 Woodard Andre Gastaldi l-ontaine, France 826,559

May 21, 1969 Aug.3, 1971 A. Raymond Grenoble, France Dec. 3, 1968 France Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee Priority LEATHER GOODS CLASP 6 Claims, 14 Drawing Figs.

230 RF, 230 SCA References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,755,296 4/1930 Hiering 24/230 2,340,708 2/[944 Stern 24/230 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,398,165 3/1965 France 1. 24/230 Primary Examiner-Ernest R. Purser Assistant Examiner-Robert L. Wolfe Attorneys-Philip E. Parker, Gordon Needleman, James R.

O'Connor, John Todd and Hall and Houghton ABSTRACT: This invention is directed at a clasp including a female member having the form of an inverted cup which extends toward the male member. The female member has a hood terminated by a flange under which a male beak of attachment can lock and has lateral tabs insuring the guidance of the male element when the clasp is being closed. The male element of the clasp includes a plate having substantially the form of a T whose crossbar forms a trigger guard designed to be fixed to the article to which the clasp is fitted, and a leg bent under the guard in such a way as to project beyond the latter with its end forming the attachment beak and also serving as a key for opening the clasp.

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SHEET M 0F d INVENTOR. ANDRE GAS TALDI AT TORNEY LEATHER GOODS CLASP SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to clasps comprising a female member and a male member which can be flexibly locked into the female member. Clasps of this type are usually used in leather goods on portfolios, cases, etc. They are also often placed on jewel cases or similar articles.

An object of the invention is to improve locking clasps with a view to simplifying their manufacture and increasing their strength as well as the reliability of their operation.

According to the invention, the two elements of the clasp are each made in one piece of simple form which can easily be made on automatic machines and which can easily be installed thereby obtaining a very low-cost price.

The female element of the clasp has the form of an inverted cup which extends toward the male element. It also has a sort of hood terminated by a flange under which the male fastener beak locks and has lateral tabs for insuring the guidance and support of the male element when the clasp is closed.

The male element comprises a flexible plate in the form of a T made, for example, of spring steel or brass whose crossbar bent in the form of a trigger guard terminates in means such as claws or perforated flanges which permit the attachment of the part to a support while the leg is bent under the guard in such a way as .to project beyond the latter with its end formed as an attachment beak to the female element and also serves as an opening key for the clasp.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a perspective view showing separately the two parts of a clasp according to the invention wherein the means of attachment are claws;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a variation of FIG. I in which the means of attachment are flanges having apertures for nailing;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation ofa female element ofa clasp provided with claws;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation of the female element shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the female element shown in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 6 through 8 are views analogous to FIGS. 3 through 5 but showing a male part designed to be mounted in the same plane as the female part, for example on a jewel case;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of a male part designed to be mounted in a plane different from the one in which the female part is found, for example on a portfolio or dressing case;

FIG. 10 is an end elevation of the male element shown in FIG. 9; and

FIGS. 11 and 12, on one hand, and FIGS. 13 and M, on the other hand, show the working of the male and female elements of clasps, one mounted on a jewel case, and the other on a dressing case or portfolio.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in the drawing and particularly FIGS. 1 through 8, the clasp comprises a female element 10 and a male element 12, each made in one piece of brass or steel, for example.

In FIG. I, the means of attachment of the two elements of the clasp on the article with which the latter is to be fitted are claws 14 designed to pass through the wall of the article in question and be bent over behind this wall, where applicable, on a perforated plate called a rivet plate, as shown in FIGS. ll through 14.

The variation in FIG. 2 is attached by nails or equivalent fasteners passing through holes 16 of flanges I8 with which the parts of the clasp are equipped.

The female element 10, which is shown in more detail in FIGS. 3 through 5, comprises a sort of inverted cup which is terminated in the side opposite that where the male part is situated by a cylindrical wall 28 and extends beyond the attachment claws 14 in a sort of rectangular dashboard or shield 22 terminated by a flange portion 24 bent at a right angle.

Under the shield 22, the sidewalls of the cup are extended by tabs or arms 26 parallel to the shield 22 but directed obliquely toward the median plane of the female element ll0. The ends of these tabs 26 are arced, for example, into a semiogive or ogive. The said tabs 26 are spaced from the shield 22 forming longitudinal slots 28.

As shown in FIGS. 6 through 8, the male element 12 is made from a sheet of metal, essentially T-shaped, the crossbar of which is bent twice at right angles at the ends to form a trigger guard 38 from which attachment claws 14 project. The latter are reinforced by ribs 32 at their root.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, on the one hand, and 9 and 10, on the other, the height of the guard 30 is different according to whether the clasp is to be mounted on an article such as a jewel case (FIGS. 6 and 7) or a portfolio (FIGS. 9 and I0), as will be explained hereinafter.

The leg of the T is bent under the guard 30 to form a loop or bight 34 which is prolonged obliquely beyond the edge of the guard 30 opposite the edge where the loop starts. A notch 36 is cut in the edge through which an attachment beak 48 projects above the guard 30 (FIG. 8). The beak 48 terminates in a convexity or key 38 which forms an operating portion for the clasp.

The width of the leg is less than the spread of the points of the tabs 26 of the female part, while the width of the guard 30 is such that the tabs 26 can enter therein practically to their roots.

FIGS. 11 through 14 illustrate the use and the method of operation of the clasp.

In every case, the female part is mounted on the support portion 40, which is to be fitted with the clasp, in such a way that a part of the shield 22, the flange portion 24 and tabs 26 will project over the edge of the support portion 40.

If the support 48 and male support 46 are made of rigid material, for example wood, the claws 14 can be limited to bend against the inner face of the support as represented in FIGS. 11 and 12. If the support 40a and male support portion 46a are made of flexible material, for example, leather, these tabs are bent over a perforated plate 42 called a rivet plate. A slide 44 can be fixed between the female part 18 of the clasp and the support portion 40a (FIGS. 13 and 14).

In the case ofajewel box or similar article in which the support portion 40 and the male support portion 46 must be immobilized facing one another (FIGS. 11 and 12), we use a male part 12 with low guard, of the type described in reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. The male element 12 is then disposed opposite the female element 10 in such a way that loop 34 projects somewhat over the edge of the male support portion 46 which then is flush with the edge of guard 30.

When the article is closed by pushing the two parts of the clasp together, loop 34 engages between tabs 26 which enter under the guard 30 while the latter inserts itself with its upper part into slots 28. The length of these slots 28 is sufficient for the attachment beak 48 to pass beyond the flanged portion 24 behind which it abuts if we attempt to open the article. Loop 34 rests on the edge of the support portion 40 (FIG. 12).

To open the clasp it is sufficient to press on key 38 in order to disengage beak 48 and draw in the opposite direction to the movement of closure. Further, as will be readily observed in the drawing, when the respective clasp components are engaged, portions of the obliquely disposed, resilient arms 26 adjacent their roots bear against the proximate edges of the sides of the trigger guard 30 and maintain a bias thereon which tends to at least partially eject the male component from the female component when key 38 is depressed to release the beak 48 from engagement with the flange 24. Thus the clasp embodies means to effect at least a partial automatic separation of the components responsive to actuation of the key.

In the case of an article such as a portfolio or a dressing case in which the support portion 40 and male support portion 46 must be overlapped on one another, as represented in FIGS. 13 and 14, we use a male part 12 with a guard 30 higher than that described in reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. Male part 12 is then mounted at a sufficient distance from the edge of male support portion 46 to insure the desired coverage. The height of guard 30 is sufficient for the edge of support portion 40 and of slide 44 to be inserted between loop 34 and male support portion 46 as shown in FIG. 14. The rest of the operation of the clasp is identical to that already described.

I claim:

1. In a clasp-type fastener combination including telescopically engageable male and female components. an improved male component comprising a trigger guard having a crossbar with a forward edge and a rear edge and spaced, generally parallel sidebars depending from said crossbar at substantially right angles thereto, said sidebars carrying means for securing said male component to a support member to be fastened, and a resilient leg forming a trigger joined to said forward edge of said crossbar and extending therefrom through a reversely bent bight under said crossbar and terminating in a free end projecting beyond the rear edge of said crossbar, said trigger embodying a beak formed therein adjacent said free end which is adapted for snap engagement with the female component when said components are telescopically coupled.

2. An improved male component according to claim 1 wherein said crossbar is notched adjacent the rear edge thereof and the beak on said trigger protrudes through said notch.

3. An improved male component according to claim 1 wherein the free terminal end of said resilient leg forming said trigger has a protuberance formed thereon, which protuberance provides a key for convenient flexing of said trigger to release said male component from the female component when coupled.

4. In a clasp-type fastener combination including telescopically engageable male, and female components, an improved female component comprising a shield in the form of a hollow cup, said shield including a base portion, a downwardly bent forward edge defining a male component engaging flange, a downwardly bent rear edge having a cylindrical configuration and being spaced from said flange and being of a height greater than said flange, said cylindrical rear edge being extended toward said flange to provide a pair of spaced, generally parallel sidewalls on said female component, a flexible, male component guide arm joined to the edge of said sidewalls proximate said flange and extending therefrom toward the plane of said flange and obliquely toward an imaginary plane passing through the medial longitudinal axis of said shield, each arm being spaced from the shield and thereby defining a pair of male component receiving slots and means for securing said female component to a support member to be fastened, said means being carried by one of said aforementioned elements of said shield.

5. A clasp comprising one piece male and female components adapted to be telescopically snapped together to effect the fastening of support members carrying the respective components comprising a male element including a trigger guard having a crossbar and depending, spaced, generally parallel sidebars a resilient trigger joined to one end of the crossbar and extending reversely therebeneath to a free terminal end disposed beyond the opposite end of said crossbar, said trigger carrying means adapted to effect snap engagement with cooperating means on said female component when said components come together and means carried by said trigger guard for securing said male component to a supporting member; said female component including a shallow cuplike shield having a base portion, a generally semicircular flange depending from one end of said base portion and a generally straight flange depending from its opposite end, said semicircular flange being of greater height than said straight flange, a pair of flexible arms joined to the ends of said semicircular flange and projecting therefrom toward said straight flange and obliquely toward an imaginary plane )passing throu h the medial longitudinal axis of said shield, eac of said arms eing spaced from said shield to provide slots for receipt of said crossbar of said trigger guard when said components come together and means for securing said female component to a support member adjacent an edge thereof whereby the said resilient arms and a portion of said shield will be cantilevered over the edge of the support member, said straight flange constituting the said means on said female component which snap engage the means on said trigger when said components come together, said trigger being depressible relative to said crossbar to effect a release of said components when coupled.

6.A clasp according to claim 5 wherein said resilient arms on said female component are adapted to engage the edges of said sidebars on said trigger guard when said components are coupled to effect a bias thereon tending to separate said components, whereby said male component is automatically at least partially ejected from said female component when said trigger is depressed incident to release of said components. 

1. In a clasp-type fastener combination including telescopically engageable male and female components, an improved male component comprising a trigger guard having a crossbar with a forward edge and a rear edge and spaced, generally parallel sidebars depending from said crossbar at substantially right angles thereto, said sidebars carrying means for securing said male component to a support member to be fastened, and a resilient leg forming a trigger joined to said forward edge of said crossbar and extending therefrom through a reversely bent bight under said crossbar and terminating in a free end projecting beyond the rear edge of said crossbar, said trigger embodying a beak formed therein adjacent said free end which is adapted for snap engagement with the female component when said components are telescopically coupled.
 2. An improved male component according to claim 1 wherein said crossbar is notched adjacent the rear edge thereof and the beak on said trigger protrudes through said notch.
 3. An improved male component according to claim 1 wherein the free terminal end of said resilient leg forming said trigger has a protuberance formed thereon, which protuberance provides a key for convenient flexing of said trigger to release said male component from the female component when coupled.
 4. In a clasp-type fastener combination including telescopically engageable male and female components, an improved female component comprising a shield in the form of a hollow cup, said shield including a base portion, a downwardly bent forward edge defining a male component engaging flange, a downwardly bent rear edge having a cylindrical configuration and being spaced from said flange and being of a height greater than said flange, said cylindrical rear edge being extended toward said flange to provide a pair of spaced, generally parallel sidewalls on said female component, a flexible, male component guide arm joined to the edge of said sidewalls proximate said flange and extending therefrom toward the plane of said flange and obliquely toward an imaginary plane passing through the medial longitudinal axis of said shield, each arm being spaced from the shield and thereby defining a pair of male component receiving slots and means for securing said female componenT to a support member to be fastened, said means being carried by one of said aforementioned elements of said shield.
 5. A clasp comprising one piece male and female components adapted to be telescopically snapped together to effect the fastening of support members carrying the respective components comprising a male element including a trigger guard having a crossbar and depending, spaced, generally parallel sidebars a resilient trigger joined to one end of the crossbar and extending reversely therebeneath to a free terminal end disposed beyond the opposite end of said crossbar, said trigger carrying means adapted to effect snap engagement with cooperating means on said female component when said components come together and means carried by said trigger guard for securing said male component to a supporting member; said female component including a shallow cuplike shield having a base portion, a generally semicircular flange depending from one end of said base portion and a generally straight flange depending from its opposite end, said semicircular flange being of greater height than said straight flange, a pair of flexible arms joined to the ends of said semicircular flange and projecting therefrom toward said straight flange and obliquely toward an imaginary plane passing through the medial longitudinal axis of said shield, each of said arms being spaced from said shield to provide slots for receipt of said crossbar of said trigger guard when said components come together and means for securing said female component to a support member adjacent an edge thereof whereby the said resilient arms and a portion of said shield will be cantilevered over the edge of the support member, said straight flange constituting the said means on said female component which snap engage the means on said trigger when said components come together, said trigger being depressible relative to said crossbar to effect a release of said components when coupled.
 6. A clasp according to claim 5 wherein said resilient arms on said female component are adapted to engage the edges of said sidebars on said trigger guard when said components are coupled to effect a bias thereon tending to separate said components, whereby said male component is automatically at least partially ejected from said female component when said trigger is depressed incident to release of said components. 